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Why at-home LED treatments are the future of skincare

You’re about to save a lot of money.

Photo of Colette Bennett

Colette Bennett

FOREO UFO

Presented by FOREO

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If you’ve been curious about skin treatments like photofacials in the past but hesitant to spend the money to try them, we can’t blame you. Not only are LED treatments pretty pricey (some go as high as $1500+ for three treatments), but many people think of them as experimental technology – which couldn’t be further from the truth. UFO, an innovative new smart mask device from FOREO, makes LED treatments both accessible and affordable.

Skeptical types may think light therapy is a gimmick, but it’s been around for a long time. Records of its use date back to Indian medical literature from 1500 BC. Nobel Prize winner Niels Ryberg Finsen invented the first device that could generate artificial sunlight, which he used to treat problematic skin.

As the years have gone by, this ancient therapy has been proven as powerful in more concrete terms. A 2014 study provides hard data on the effectiveness of LED skincare. After undergoing LED treatments twice a week over the course of 30 sessions, all of the study’s participants showed “significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling.” Collagen density was also recorded using ultrasonographical measurement and showed significant improvement. Or, in English: light therapy really works.

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If you’re wondering how it works, it’s easy to explain. Photofacials use two different types of light: intense pulsed light (IPL) and light emitting diode (LED). When the skin is exposed to this kind of light, sun spots, age spots, and rosacea are attracted to it. In the case of LED light, different colors trigger reactions beneath the epidermis. The results are what we’ve been talking about all along– reduction of unsightly marks, smoother skin texture, pore reduction, and everyone’s favorite: looking younger.

While IPL treatments for skin can be done at home, they are more complex due to the nature of the light waves used in the therapy. This means these treatments are likely safer in the hands of an established doctor. The LED is a simpler treatment, meaning it adapts perfectly for at-home use.

Skincare company FOREO’s UFO device is easily one of the best on the market for LED therapy. It fits in the palm of your hand and uses sheet masks created using Korean skincare’s famous formulas. Imagine combining a 20-minute sheet mask treatment with thermo and cryotherapy – but it only takes 90 seconds. That’s a lot easier than hauling your butt to a medispa every few weeks! 

Check out an in-depth review of the UFO in the video below.

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The UFO’s Thermo-Therapy mode reduces inflammation and promoting circulation. As we mentioned before, red LED is proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as improve skin texture. Plus, it feels really nice on your face, and the warmth opens pores so your skin absorbs the treatment properly.

UFO also utilizes a Cryo-Therapy mode, which is just what it sounds like: a cooling green LED that breaks up melanin for easier absorption and reduces puffiness. As you smooth it over the face, it also seals in the effects of the sheet masks the device uses. And like Thermo-Therapy, it feels absolutely wonderful. You may also see a blue LED in some treatments, which kills the bacteria that causes acne.

Available in three bright colors, the UFO retails for $279 and comes with a two-year warranty and a 10-year quality guarantee. Pick a few sheet masks that cater to your needs and you’ll be good to go. Now you can use all the space your sheet mask collection used to take up to amp your skincare arsenal!

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